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The Sunday Poem: Larry Goodell... Peace Envoy

America was founded on the strength of an idea, not our military might. Our first 'warriors' were pamphleteers. In today's world Larry Goodell looks at our strengths once more...and answers the question, "Is poetry worth writing?"

Once called "The Aristophanes of the Piñon-Juniper Scrubland" performance poet Larry Goodell has lived in Placitas for almost 50 years. He has published many local writers and is author of Firecracker Soup, Out of Secrecy, The Mad New Mexican, and Here on Earth. He is currently helping with the Duende Poetry Series there in Placitas.

Peace Envoy

Note: We’ve tried to "democratize" the world with WAR
and that hasn’t worked: let’s try ART!

Attack them with culture!
Let all the little bacteria of art invade the world,
all the professions of aesthetics profess,
the stewards of theater stand on their words and belt them out
the symphonies of the first degree incarcerate all foreigners’ ears
with America’s lust for sound and beauty
our best is the cream of the crop avant garde minimal
    or maximus poetry standing tall & reading from the heart
dance from the New York stages and Los Angeles lofts
    entering Afghanistan, Nepal, Paris & North Korea
dancing in Iran and Mozambique, Kazakhistan
the emissaries of creative forces invading with
    the drama of imagination painting new avenues of peace
and tingling understanding of the new in America
    and our oldest firsts from Whitman to Gershwin
        to the jazz heart of this country along the rivers
            and deltas and cities & wild blues & jazz
open free speech riding the waves to all corners of the world
    to provoke open minds, the tolerance of diversity, peace and love.

larry goodell / village of placitas, new mexico / 24Oct2010

Poetry submissions are welcome. Email theditchrider@gmail.com.

3 members like this

Comment by Margaret Randall on August 7, 2011 at 8:38am: Yes, let all art's seen and unseen bacteria invade the world! War sure hasn't democratized anything. Poetry is powerful, as Larry shows us in this terrific and current poem. I can hear it in his voice, too, read as only he can. I am so damned fed up with the mess our peerless leaders are making of our lives these days... and so many lives... it's refreshing to be reminded, by a poem like this one, that there is much to believe in and cheer. Thank you Larry. Thank you Jon.

Comment by Ben Moffett on August 7, 2011 at 9:20am: Yes, let's. Our best efforts in world political encounters have been with art and games. Table tennis diplomacy (I think table tennis might qualify as an art, given its gracefulness) with China during the Nixon era. Voice of America music breaking through the Iron Curtain from the West. Open free speech, as you suggest, Larry, seems to be the way to provoke open minds, tolerance, peace and love as you suggest. Significant poetry. Thanks Larry, and, as always, thanks Apoderado de Acequias.

Comment by Joan Fenicle on August 7, 2011 at 11:28am: Yes indeed Larry. But making bombs is more profitable and it all seems to be about the money these days. Thanks for this message - we all need to share it with our witless leaders.

Comment by Thomas Caruthers on August 7, 2011 at 12:03pm: It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.

Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

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If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute.

Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

Comment by Dee Cohen on August 8, 2011 at 5:09am: Thanks Larry for this inspiring message. Art can do wonders.I'd love to hear this one out loud. Really loud! Thanks, Dee

Comment by larry goodell on August 8, 2011 at 9:56am: thanks for the kind words . . . our innovative art & literary culture by way of the internet and actual live performances is a powerful way to spread tolerance & love . . . in my opinion . . . and it's hardly used or mentioned these days . . . remember the ny philharmonic going to north korea and the good whack that made in the world?

Comment by Richard V on August 8, 2011 at 11:03am: we're going to have to do it on our own, because the powers that be aren't going to help. let's start an army of artists and undo the damage that's been done. thanks, larry.

Comment by larry goodell on August 8, 2011 at 5:54pm: yep, so true . . . I just put this poem live on Soundclick if anyone wants to hear it: http://bit.ly/qYR2EZ

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